Chu Geng stood up unsteadily, pointing outward and exclaiming loudly, “Looking at the four nations, the Emperor of Eastern Chen, Shen Yao, was wise and far-sighted. He left behind the professions of fishing and forestry, reformed commerce, established rituals, and recruited talented individuals. He had young and famous ministers like Fang Wuyi, and young military talents like Yu Polu. Even though Shen Yao himself was already very old, his grandson Shen An’s literary and military skills were not inferior to his grandfather’s. As for Southern Zhao, Emperor Zhao Qi was kind, upright, and devoted to his people. The citizens loved and supported him, and he reformed the imperial examination system to recruit talents from all over the world. In five or ten years, they might not be inferior to Eastern Chen. Look at Loufan, they had already learned to establish an official system like the Central Plains countries. They were militarily strong, and even if we don’t talk about their current war with Eastern Chen, we can see their strength from how much land they took from Great Liang and Eastern Chen in previous years…”
“In contrast, look at our Great Liang. Cui has been in power for so many years, the ruler doesn’t act like a ruler, and the officials don’t act like officials! They colluded with each other and squandered the national treasury. When natural disasters struck year after year, they didn’t release silver or grain, letting soldiers starve and freeze in battle. The military and civilians were full of complaints! After His Majesty took power, he didn’t seek progress or change, and caused a stir in the capital over a famous woman! Among all the civil and military officials, only Wen Zong was worthy of great use, and the imperial examinations were practically useless! What did they ask? How to be a virtuous official! They asked about poetry! They made scholars who had studied for over a decade interpret classics! Interpret my ass! For the policy essay on current affairs and ways of being an official, I prepared twenty model essays. Were they useful? Could they save Great Liang!?”
Chu Geng’s words were forceful and clear. “What can really save Great Liang now is to drastically reform the cumbersome official system, to execute or confiscate the property of those idle, extortionate, corrupt officials! It’s to resolutely reform the outdated imperial examination system, to recruit talented people from all over the world, to let those who can fight go fight, those who can manage water go manage water, those who can farm go farm, those who are good at governing a region go govern, those who are good at offering advice and strategies go advise! If we don’t seek practical and capable people, and only focus on poetry, all you see in your eyes will be just romantic scenery. With which eye will you see the suffering of the people! On this journey south, the principles and poetry I learned couldn’t save them. What could save them was real money and grain!”
“Great Liang is surrounded by enemies on three sides, all eyeing this piece of fat meat. Most of our regions are in the north, it’s not feasible to just focus on farming and agricultural development! Yes, once we emphasize commerce, it will suppress agriculture, but we need to look at Great Liang’s situation… We’re surrounded by enemies on three sides, but this also means opportunities on three sides! In the fifth year of the previous emperor, merchant businesses were thriving everywhere, but they were forcibly suppressed by Cui, completely extinguishing Great Liang’s hope of becoming strong again. As for the military system and taxation, they also need to be reformed…”
Chu Geng became incoherent as he got excited, proposing suggestions on how to reform from various aspects. Finally, he patted Wang Dian’s shoulder hard and said, “But now our Emperor in the court keeps giving in again and again, allowing those noble families to lead him by the nose! He turns a blind eye to the people’s suffering! He ignores this dying country! He’s as wayward and cruel as before, with a penchant for killing! The great edifice is about to collapse, you just watch how many more years this Liang can barely survive! Hahahahaha!”
He burst into loud laughter, but as he laughed, tears came to his eyes. He staggered back a few steps, fell by the roadside, curled up there crying and laughing, “I’ve wasted so much time reading the books of sages… yet I can’t even save one person…”
Wang Dian looked at him calmly, and after a long while, he asked, “How do you know that Liang Ye turns a blind eye and ignores everything?”
Chu Geng was still in a drunken frenzy. Although Wang Dian knew it was useless to say more to him, he couldn’t help but say, “You outsiders can see such difficulties, how much more difficult must it be for him in the midst of it all.”
To carve out a bloody path from being a powerless puppet, how could he not see clearly? But this massive state machine, one move affects the whole body. Even the emperor who seems to hold great power and have the power of life and death over others, still faces difficulties at every step and is restricted everywhere.
The emperor held supreme power, but imperial power also backfired, rooted in flesh and blood, intertwined and deeply entangled, trapping a living person within until there was no distinction between self and power.
Chu Geng made some valid points and showed talent, but even implementing just one of his suggestions peacefully would likely take 10 or even 20 years to take shape. However, as he said, if Liang didn’t seek change and survival now, it was bound to perish soon.
Whether it would succeed or fail depended not only on whether Liang Ye had the determination to burn his bridges, but also on whether Liang had such luck.
However, regardless of the circumstances, Wang Dian felt that Liang Ye would still take a gamble.
“Chang Ying, take him inside,” Wang Dian said.
Chang Ying went over and carried the man, asking, “Young Master, should we kill this person?”
“Hmm? Why kill him?” Wang Dian asked as he walked in front.
“This man seems quite capable,” Chang Ying said uncertainly. “The Emperor of Liang is your enemy. This servant observed that he considers Great Liang’s interests in everything he says. If the Emperor of Liang gets hold of him in the future, wouldn’t that be helpful to him?”
Wang Dian let out a laugh with an unclear meaning.
Half a month later.
In the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace, Southern Zhao’s capital.
Wang Dian sat on the steps covered with a soft fur carpet, holding a plate of exquisite pastries in his arms, eating them casually. He was unexpectedly hit by the sweetness and complained, “The pastries made by your imperial kitchen are too sweet and greasy, far inferior to those in Liang.”
“Then stop eating them,” Zhao Qi angrily threw the letter on the table and shouted towards the outside, “Summon Lin Yuan for Zhen!”
Wang Dian wore an expression of someone enjoying the drama, suddenly finding the pastries somewhat tolerable.
A cautious reply came from outside the door. “Your Majesty, Lin Daren is sick at home. It’s said he can’t even get out of bed.”
The anger in Zhao Qi’s eyes flared up. He paced irritably in front of the table for two rounds, then pointed towards the door and shouted, “You go personally! Convey Zhen’s verbal order. If he refuses to come, Zhen will make sure he never gets out of bed for the rest of his life!”
Wang Dian cheerfully grabbed a pot of tea from the side, meticulously poured it into a tea cup, and blew on it leisurely. “Why are you angry with Lin Yuan? He’s doing it for your own good.”
Zhao Qi stared at him with a forced smile.
Wang Dian nonchalantly looked to the side.
Half a month ago, Chu Geng, who happened to be drunk at his mansion’s gate, was carried inside. He persuaded him to become his ‘Ke Qing’, but soon realized it was inappropriate. He had Long Li send Chu Geng south, and sure enough, Liang Ye’s secret guards soon came following the news. He had to temporarily abandon his plan to settle in Qingcang County and fled overnight with Chang Ying. They were nearly caught several times. Finally, with no other choice, he had to take a risk. A few days ago, using the token Zhao Qi had given him when he was on a diplomatic mission to Northern Liang, he successfully entered the Southern Zhao palace.
(TL: Ke Qing=a person who, while not a native of the state or kingdom, was invited to serve as an advisor or official due to their talents, knowledge, or expertise)
Being in the Southern Zhao palace, Liang Ye’s secret guards were wary and didn’t dare to approach, giving Wang Dian a chance to catch his breath.
To gain Zhao Qi’s trust, he even “recklessly” revealed his true appearance, which ironically made his words more convincing. After all, no emperor would allow someone who looked exactly like himself to roam free outside. It was also indirectly giving Zhao Qi leverage, making him more willing to provide protection.
Of course, these behind-the-scenes exchanges of bargaining chips were never mentioned openly. Proper adults always handle things smoothly and with dignity.
However, Zhao Qi was apparently too straightforward in some aspects.
“Then I’ll send you back to Liang now, also for your own good,” Zhao Qi said.
Wang Dian was unexpectedly choked by the pastry. He pounded his chest hard before barely swallowing it down. He stretched his legs on the steps and sighed, “Come on, I still want to live for a few more years.”
This was indeed a genuine wish.
Zhao Qi was puzzled. “I used to think Zhao was unreliable enough, how come your Liang is even more unreliable than Zhao?”
“I also think Liang will collapse sooner or later,” Wang Dian agreed wholeheartedly, generously sharing his freshly brewed tea.
“So what did you do to make the Emperor of Liang chase you all the way to Zhao?” Zhao Qi picked up the cup and took a sip, the taste was indeed good.
“I…slept with him,” Wang Dian managed to find a reason that a normal person could understand from a bunch of complex, ridiculous, and absurd reasons.
“Pfft!” Zhao Qi spat tea on the table, staring at him in shock, his expression seeming to convince himself that he hadn’t misheard.
“Of course, this isn’t the main reason,” Obviously, this reason was still too advanced and outrageous for a normal person. He picked up a pastry and threw it into his mouth, chewing hard to hide his embarrassment. He cleared his throat and said half-truthfully, “Mainly, we have different political views. A country can’t have two masters, so it’s not a solution to continue like this. It’s better to leave early, let’s part on good terms.”
“If I may ask,” Zhao Qi hesitated, then probed, “Aren’t you two twin brothers? You slept with your older brother?”
“My younger brother,” Wang Dian corrected rigorously.
“Who cares about that!” Zhao Qi exclaimed in disbelief, not even having time to be angry at Lin Yuan anymore. He gossiped, “The Emperor of Liang is unruly and wayward, not saying your younger brother has a bad personality, but how could someone like him be willing?”
“Well,” Wang Dian rubbed his nose and pointed outside, “Otherwise, how could he chase me all the way here?”
Zhao Qi gave him an admiring look.
“Besides, we’re not really blood-related,” Wang Dian said carelessly. “My surname is Wang, his is Liang. At most, we share a monkey ancestor, we just happen to look identical.”
Obviously, Zhao Qi took this truth as a lie, looking at him as if saying ‘What nonsense are you talking about, I don’t believe you’. He was convinced that Wang Dian and Liang Ye were definitely brothers. Understanding that if nothing unexpected happened, Wang Dian had no chance to return to Liang, he unhesitatingly extended an olive branch, “If that’s the case, why don’t you come to our Zhao? I can at least give you a position as a minister.”
Wang Dian’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but he couldn’t just agree so easily. He deliberately changed the subject, “Won’t your family’s Minister Lin flay me alive?”
“He wouldn’t dare!” Zhao Qi slammed the table, then after a while, he reacted and angrily said, “Who said he’s my family!”
Wang Dian shook his head with schadenfreude, absolutely refusing to mention the official position again.
“But speaking of which, I do have a tricky matter that needs your help,” Zhao Qi glanced at him.
Wang Dian brushed off the pastry crumbs from his hands and asked, pretending not to know, “The matter of your little imperial uncle?”
Zhao Qi nodded, “I know why Lin Yuan insists on silencing him. It’s indeed safer that way, but the Zhao clan has few descendants. The only remaining bloodline is a princess. If possible, I still hope to bring the person back.”
Wang Dian’s opinion of him truly changed at this, “They all say you’re kind-hearted, I didn’t believe it at first. What if the other harbors rebellious thoughts?”
“Then kill,” A flash of fierceness passed through Zhao Qi’s eyes, then he looked at Wang Dian with a gentle expression again, smiling, “It just depends on whether you’re willing to go on this journey with Zhen.”
This was the real test before official cooperation. Wang Dian grinned, “Happy to serve.”
Zhao Qi’s face twisted for a moment, “Damn, don’t smile at me with that face, I feel like I’m seeing Liang Ye.”
That real madman gave him a headache just thinking about him.
Wang Dian took out a mask from his sleeve and put it on, turning into an ordinary handsome face, “Is it that similar?”
“Identical,” Zhao Qi said with a wooden face. “But you’re much more normal than him.”
“You flatter me,” Wang Dian said modestly.
As they were talking, a report suddenly came from outside. “Reporting to Your Majesty, an urgent letter from the Emperor of Northern Liang!”
Wang Dian’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
That Liang Ye definitely isn’t up to any good.
